Pages

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Interview & Giveaway! Heather Sutherlin ~ Author of A Light in the Darkness!

Welcome
to Christian Bookshelf Reviews, Heather!! Will you tell us a little about
yourself?

Hi,
everyone! I’m a brand new author who has just jumped into the world of
publishing this year. I have written four books and have nearly twenty more
sketched out and waiting for me to give them a little attention. When I’m not
writing, I’m usually curled up with my three kids reading a book or out
exploring the world with them. We homeschool and love it because each day is a
new adventure.

What
is A Light in the Darkness about?

A Light in the Darkness is a fantasy novel about faith and
how it changes your life, affecting your relationships and your purpose. The
story follows a young woman, Merrilyn, who discovers she has the power to heal
people. When she meets the deity who gave her this power, she is forever
changed and sets out to share his goodness with others. This causes tension in
her closest relationships and when she becomes the target of a dark enemy, she
decides to follow her god even if it means leaving behind the ones she loves.

What
is something the average reader wouldn't know about you?

I have “movie dreams.” My dreams are so vivid and intense it is like
watching a movie. I rarely dream about my own life or people I know. Instead, I
fall asleep and dream about romance and adventure, foreign countries and
fantasy worlds. Each of my books came from one of these vivid dreams. I write
to find out what happens next!

When
did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

When
I was ten I wrote my first short story and by the time I was twelve I had
notebooks full of them. Somehow I became convinced that being a writer wasn’t a
viable option, so I gave it up. But my brother became a writer and he kept
pushing me to take it up since I was always telling him about my story ideas.
He convinced me to finish my first full length novel during National Novel
Writing Month in 2007 and that was it – I was hooked!

How
many books have you written/published and do you have a favorite?

I
have written four books so far, but have many more waiting in the wings.A Light In The Darknesswas released in August and its sequel,To Light the Path, was just
published at the beginning of October. Watch for the first book in my next
series, Seen, to be published later this fall.

I
would say my favorite book is often the one I’m currently working on at the
time. I absolutely love the characters in my new book,To Light The Path. Although
this book is high adventure, it’s really all about how the characters grow and
change throughout the story.

What would you say is your most
interesting writing quirk?I prefer to write in silence. No music
playlists for me! I hide in my bedroom or at my desk in our school room and
write while everyone is asleep so that my brain doesn’t have to compete with
the sounds of our busy household. I think it’s because I’m such a social
creature. My brain can’t focus if it feels like I’m missing out on something
fun going on around me.

Where
do you like to write?

I
normally write either at my desk or curled up in bed with a notebook in my lap.
However, my favorite place to write is in the woods. I grew up daydreaming on
the wooded hillsides of our family farm and my creative side goes nuts when I
find myself surrounded by trees and nothing but the sounds of nature around me.
Give me a notebook and a moss covered log to lean against and I’m a happy
writer.

What
is the best and/or worst part about being a writer?

This
is a tough question! I love so many things about being a writer. I love
discovering a story as I’m writing it. I love the idea of inspiring others with
my work. I LOVE that I can be a full-time writer and still stay home with my
family.

I’m
sure once I get a really hateful review I’ll say that’s the worst part about
being a writer. So far that hasn’t happened. Right now the only thing I don’t
love about being a writer is the final editing process. It is deeply painful
for me. However, I’m motivated to survive it each time in the hopes that I’ll
be able to share a stronger story with my readers.

What
do you like to do when you're not writing?

I
love to cook dinner for large groups of people. A dinner party is nice, but I
prefer to host feasts for thirty to fifty people at a time. Weird, I know.
Right now I get to indulge each week by making dinner for our youth group at
church. I’m hoping to host a Thanksgiving dinner for the community this year,
too. I always say, “Let me feed you, and we’ll be friends.”

Is
there a place you’d like to visit, but haven’t yet?

Scotland! I am convinced I was created
for the Highlands, which is actually where my ancestors are from and my
husband’s as well. It would be marvelous to visit someday. My only fear is that
I won’t want to come home!

Do
you have a favorite song and/or movie?

I
love the song, Blessed Be Your Name, because it is so profoundly true. I cry
every single time we sing it because of that part in the bridge reminding us
how “He gives and takes away.” Every Single Time! I think about what He has
given and then my heart jumps into my throat as I am reminded of all that He
has taken away and still I praise Him because I know without a doubt that He is
good and His love endures forever. So, I choose to say, “Lord, blessed be your
name.”

What
is your favorite dessert?

Cheesecake! I love the stuff! It was the
first real recipe I ever learned and I was so proud once I could make it for
myself. After a visit to France, I decided crème brulee was a close second. I
consider it French CheesecakeJ

Do
you have a favorite Bible verse?

“… and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungryand satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your
light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the
noonday.” Isaiah 58:10

Here
are a few this-or-that questions:

Snowstorms
or Thunderstorms?Thunder,
lightning, and a good book, please!

Tea
or Coffee?Coffee!

Print
or eBook? BothJ

Early-bird
or Night-owl?Night-owl

Cats
or Dogs?Dogs

Are
you currently working on any new novels? If so, could you give us a hint?

I’ve got a long list. Next up will be a
contemporary series about a group of individuals who are given special
abilities from the Holy Spirit in order to warn the world about the
anti-Christ. A serious departure both from what I normally write and what I prefer
to read, but the Lord has put it on my heart and it won’t let go. After that
I’m going to finish a fun story that will be something of a Christian steampunk
romance.

Thanks
so much for being here! Is there anything else you’d like to tell readers and
where can we find you on the web?

Thank
you for having me today. It has been such a joy to share my work with all of
you.

I would like to thank you for a brilliant book giveaway, that sounds amazing and something that i would very much enjoy reading. The interview with the book's author was intreguing, hence i now want to know more!

Honestly, I love tea, too. Cats always draw me in, but I've been attacked by more cats over the years than you would believe. My grandfather used to have one that would hide under the bed or couch and then attack my feet as I walked by. Silly thing! A dog would never be that sneaky! :)

Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment - I love reading them! Comments are moderated and I reserve the right to not publish any comment that I find to be offensive (i.e. foul language, inappropriate content, etc.) or spam.

Thanks for stopping by and for commenting! =)

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. ~ Philippians 4:8

Total Pageviews

Some of the links in my blog posts, tweets, social media posts, etc. contain “affiliate links.” This means if you click on a link with my affiliate code and purchase an item(s), I will receive an affiliate commission. You won't be charged extra, I'll just receive a small percentage of the purchase price. See my disclosure page here.